Eye opening and closing mechanism for dolls



Oct. 27, 1942'. w. N. WHEELER EYE OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1041 Attorney 7; 9 w. N. WHEELER EYE OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS Filed Dec 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MLL/AM N -WHL 1? Attorney Patented Oct. 27, 1942 -UNITE'D STATES PATENT OFFICE EYE OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM FOR'DOLLS 3 Claims.

My invention relates to eye opening and closing mechanisms for dolls and of the type operative to effect closing of the eyes under rocking of the doll, as exemplified in my copending application, Serial No. 406,708, filed August 13, 1941, over which the instant invention is designed as an improvement.

The principal object of the instant invention is to provide,-as compared with prior devices, a more simplified eye opening and closing mechanism operative to close the eyes after the doll has been rocked for a while, and which is proof against sticking.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of eye closing position, as when the dolls head is held in reclining position,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism detached and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a View in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, the head I of a doll is provided above the eyes I' with slots, as at 2, for the projection of eyelid members therethrough into eye closing position.

A bracket plate 3 is attached in the head I to the back thereof in any suitable manner, for instance, as indicated at 4, to be disposed in upright position in the upright position of the doll. The plate 3 embodies a pair of upper bracket arms 5 extending forwardly from opposite side edges thereof in laterally spaced relation and in which are journaled the opposite ends of a rock shaft 6 extending lengthwise between the sides of the 71 head I. Extending upwardly from the longitudinal center of the rock shaft 6, in the upright position of the doll, is a T-shaped, rod-like lid carrying member I on which are suitably fastened eyelid members 8 adapted to be projected out of the slots 2 into eye closing position and retracted into eye opening position under rocking of the rock shaft in opposite directions. Depending from the center of the rock shaft 6 is a rod-like Weight carrying member 9 having its lower end suitably fixed in a segmental fiat-sided weight I0. As will presently more clearly appear, the weight In is designed, when the doll is tilted into reclining position and rocked back and forth endwise, to be oscillated in the median plane of the doll back and forth to cause the rock shaft to project and retract the eyelid members 8. A third and lower bracket arm II extends forwardly from the plate 3 alongside the weight I0 and is spaced laterally from said weight. The bracket arm I I has a right angled upper edge flange I2 of plate-like form shorter than the arm and providing at its rearend a stop I3. A lateral stop forming extension I4 is provided on the rear end of the weight ID to abut the stop I3 in the upright position of the doll and establish a limit of movement of said weight In in one direction, in which limit the eyelid members 8 are held retracted into eye opening position.

The weight I0 carries "a vertically swingable locking member having a right angled rear end I5 rotatably extended through the rear end of the weight "I0 and through the extension I4 parallel with the axis of the rock shaft 6, said member also comprising a shank I6 extending forwardly alongside the weight I0 and having a downturned arcuate frontend I 'I-which, in the described limit of movement of'the weight I0, hooks over a transverse lock releasing shaft I8 journaled in the front end of the bracket arm =1 I and in a right angled down'turned extension I9 of the flange I2. The releasing shaft 18 extends parallel with the shaft 6. Also, the releasing shaft I-Bis offset downwardly from the front end of the flange I2 and said front end is inclined to the shaft I8, as at 20, for a purpose presently seen. At one end thereof, the releasing shaft I8 is formed with an angularly related extension 2| carrying a terminal weight 22, whereby when the doll is tilted into reclining position and rocked back and forth endwise, the weight 22 may be oscillated to rock the lock releasing shaft I8. A right angled stop forming end 23 on said releasing shaft I8 is interposed between a pair of stop lugs 24, 25 provided on the front end of the extension I9 for alternate engagement by said end 23 to limit rocking movement of said releasing shaft I8 in opposite directions.

Referring now to the operation of the mechanism, when the doll is tilted and rocked in reoscillation thereof gradually slides off the releasing shaft I8 and permits this weight Iii under the influence of gravity to swing away from the flange l2 and in a direction to cause the eyelid members 8 to. suddenly close. As said arcuate end I! slides off the shaft IS, the eyelid members 8 close and the weight I!) abuts the stop lug 26 on the plate I. During such closing of the eyelid members 8, the arcuate end l'i slides'down the flange l2. Under tilting of the doll into upright position, the weight It swings under the influence of gravity in the opposite direction toward the flange H2, in which direction of movement of said weight the eyelid members 8 are caused to open and said arcuate end I! to slide along the flange l2 and over the releasing shaft lit, at which point it drops over said shaft. The inclined front end 20 of the flange l2 guides the arcuate end I? of the locking member over said shaft "83. As will be understood, under swinging of the weight Hi in said opposite direction, the stop forming extension I4 engages the stop end l3 of the flange l2 and the arcuate end if of the locking member slightly clears the releasing shaft 58 so that it may drop over the same. A lateral stop pin 2? on the weight It] is provided for engaging the shank it of the locking member to limit swinging movement of the locking member away from the flange I2 if the doll is tilted upside down and for a purpose which will be obvious.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein a reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a doll including a head, and eyes in said head, eye closing mechanism including a pair of lid members operative into eye closing position, means to operate said members comprising a weight pivotally mounted in said head for swinging movement under the influence of gravity when the doll is held in reclining position to move said members into said closing position, and means to releasably lock said weight against such swinging in the reclining position of the doll comprising a second weight swingable in said head in opposite directions under rocking of the doll endwise in the reclining position thereof, and coengaging devices disengageable gradually under such swinging of said second weight, said devices comprising a rock shaft operative in opposite directions under such swinging of said second weight, and a member pivoted on said first-mentioned weight and slidably engaging said shaft.

2. In a doll including a head, and eyes in said head, eye closing mechanism including a pair of lid members operative into eye closing position, means to operate said members comprising a weight pivotally mounted in said head for swinging movement under the influence of gravity when the doll is held in reclining position to to move said members into said closing position,

. and means to releasably lock said weight against such swinging in the reclining position of the doll comprising a second weight swingable in said head in opposite directions under rocking of the doll endwise in the reclining position thereof, and coengaging devices disengageable gradually under such swinging of said second weight, said devices comprising a rock shaft operative in opposite directions under such swinging of said second Weight, and a member pivoted on said first-mentioned weight and slidably engaging said shaft, said member comprising an arcuate shaft engaging part eccentric to the pivotal axis of the,

member.

3. In a doll including a head, and eyes in said head, eye closing mechanism including a pair of lid members operative into eye closing position, means to operate said members comprising a weight pivotally mounted in said head for swinging movement under the influence of gravity when the doll is held in reclining position to move said members into said closing position, and means to releasably lock said weight against such swinging in the reclining position of the doll comprising a second weight swingable in said head in opposite directions under rocking of the doll endwise in the reclining position thereof, and coengaging devices disengageable gradually under such swinging of said second weight, said devices comprising a rock shaft operative in opposite directions under such swinging of said second weight, and a member pivoted on the first-mentioned weight and slidably engaging said shaft, said member comprising an arcuate shaft engaging part eccentric to the pivotal axis of the member, and hooking over said shaft.

WILLIAM N. WHEELER. 

